Hold on, before you declare him ready for the season opener. Thursday’s participation in practice was a modest increase in action.

Bogut, still recovering from surgery on his left ankle, didn’t participate fully in practice. He has yet to be tested by an all-out scrimmage. But he is a step closer.

“He’s continuing to do a little bit more, and we’re going to monitor him and we’re going to see how he feels by doing more and more,” coach Mark Jackson told reporters after Thursday’s practice. “And when he’s ready to go, he’ll play, but I think the smart way to do it is continue to introduce more play with him and then play it by ear.”

Bogut hasn’t played since he fractured his ankle in January while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. He had another surgery in April to clean out his ankle. Since then, he’s been on a slow road to recovery.

He was hoping to get into an exhibition game or two, but that ship has sailed. He’s still targeting Wednesday’s season opener at Phoenix for his return. It’s no guarantee at this point, but Jackson is pleased with the progress Bogut is making.

“He looked very good,” Jackson said. “The bottom line is we’re not going to throw him out there. He’s too important to this franchise, too important to this basketball team. We want to be very, very patient with him.”

Jackson is taking a similar approach with point guard Stephen Curry, who did not practice Thursday.

Curry sprained his right ankle Friday in Portland when Blazers swingman Wesley Matthews kicked him in the foot. Curry sat out the last two exhibition games.

Curry was checked out by the surgeon who performed arthroscopic surgery on that ankle, alleviating concerns that he had sustained another serious sprain.

Still, Jackson’s priority is resting Curry, who is expected to be available for the opener.

“We’re just continuing to play it smart,” Jackson said after practice. “We don’t need him today. It’s making sure he’s ready when it matters most. But it’s just precautionary reasons.”

As expected, the Warriors exercised their third-year option on guard Klay Thompson. He is now guaranteed $2.3 million next season. Golden State had until Oct. 31 to pick up the option.

Marcus Thompson is a sports columnist for the Bay News Group. After 10 years as an NBA beat writer, he is a leading voice on the Golden State Warriors. An Oakland native, he gives us a relevant voice in the East Bay. He's been with the organization since 1999.